Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Vajra (Thunderbolt)’ of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Vajra (Thunderbolt)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Amuktāyudhas > Vajra (Thunderbolt)]
Twenty weapons are listed under this [amuktāyudha] category as weapons that are to be wielded by the warrior against the enemy but cannot be thrown at him (as it has been shown with regard to the muktāyudhas. Khaḍga or sword is one such weapon; but it has been treated separately by the author, that too, by allocating one full chapter to it. Adding that, the total number of amuktāyudhas should be twenty one.
[Vajra]—This terrific weapon has a mythological origin of being made out of the backbone of sage Dadhīci[1] (II.59):
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It was owned by Indra as it possessed immeasurable power (V. 1-2):
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Nītiprakāśikā mentions it as having great length and breadth with sharp points all over its surface, and encircled by sword edges (V. 5ab):
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Tattvavivṛti talks of it as a weapon to be used by holding it by hand, having crores of sharp points and sharp sword edges all over it. There are four movements associated with this namely (V. 6):
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(a) Cālana–moving
(b) Dhūnana–shaking
(c) Chedana–cutting
(d) Bhedana [Bhedanam]–splitting or breaking
The Śatapatha brāhmaṇa (I. 2. 4) mentions the weapon having thousand spikes and hundred edges. It is probable that the weapon had different forms.
In Aparājitapṛcchā (235. 33), Vajra is defined as two tridents joined together:
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Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Similar account is provided in the Mahābhārata (Vanaparva. 99) Kumbakonam edition.